Starc appears a lock alongside Peter Siddle after the pair bowled Australia to a last-day victory in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Hobart this week with Johnson 12th man after performing well against South Africa in Perth.

But Warne said Bird, who has missed the past two Stars games for "team make-up" reasons, would push past at least one of the lefties in the pecking order.

"He'll take the new rock. I think he's got a great temperament, he'll fit in there fine," Warne said.

"I'm sure he'll be a little bit nervous and so you should be ... but he'll do a great job.

"Bird has been fantastic for (the Stars). He opened the bowling in our first game and has been bowling extremely well."

"I think he'll get the nod and I think he'll open the bowling, which will be a huge thrill for him, be great for the Stars to have another player playing for Australia and it will be a good 'Chrissy' present."

Bird, last season's Shield cricketer of the year, has taken 14 wickets at 12.07 in two Shield games at the MCG.

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